Loneliness.
It was a feeling King was very familiar with, the hollow sensation that would occasionally creep into his heart late at night when he, as a shut-in, faced his computer screen alone.
Only now, this emotion appeared on Lumine, who always had Paimon chattering beside her, making it particularly abrupt and striking.
King completely stopped in his tracks.
Paimon, in his arms, seemed to sense something as well. Her small body stirred slightly, and she lifted her head in confusion, looking in the direction King was gazing.
"Lumine...?"
Paimon called out softly.
The sound wasn't loud, but Lumine seemed to hear it. Her shoulders trembled slightly, and she suddenly looked up.
When she saw a living Paimon, a surge of extremely complex emotions flashed through her amber eyes—surprise, guilt, worry, longing... and a hint of relief.
She practically leaped up, rushing to King in a few steps.
"Paimon! Are you okay? I heard that terrifying heartbeat again!"
Lumine's voice was urgent, and her gaze quickly swept over Paimon's entire body, wanting to confirm she wasn't injured.
"I-I'm fine..."
Paimon subconsciously replied, then suddenly reacted, her small face flushing. She struggled to get down from King's arms: "Lumine! What are you doing here? Did you come to pick me up? Even though it's only been one day, Paimon missed you so much!"
King released her hand, and Paimon immediately floated up, flying to Lumine's side and circling around her, chattering away: "Lumine, let me tell you, so much happened today! King took me to eat breakfast, then we met Tartaglia, and he was so fierce just now! He even wanted to fight! But King just used two fingers to..."
Paimon's words poured out like a machine gun, eager to share the thrilling events of the morning.
Lumine's heart pounded, and anger surged!
Damn you, Tartaglia, you scared my Paimon!!
She shook her head, forcing herself not to dwell on it, and looked at Paimon, trying to force a smile: "Mm, it's good that you're okay. I... I was just passing by and thought I'd check on you."
Lumine was being stubborn; the strain in her voice was evident even to the usually clueless Paimon.
"Lumine..."
Paimon stopped flying and floated in front of Lumine, reaching out a small hand to touch her pretty face, asking worriedly, "What's wrong? Are you unhappy? Is it because Paimon wasn't here, and you were lonely?"
Lumine quickly shook her head: "Of course not! I..."
I am a Traveler who has journeyed through the sea of stars for countless years!
Of course... I would be lonely.
Lumine had long been accustomed to wandering, but she had never gotten used to loneliness.
After parting ways with her brother, Paimon had been by her side all these years.
This little chatterbox, this little glutton, had, unknowingly, become an indispensable part of Lumine's life—family, friend, best companion.
The day she lost Paimon, time stretched out infinitely.
The streets of Fontaine, bustling and lively, were something Lumine and Paimon had long looked forward to.
However, without Paimon, with only Lumine remaining, the clamor seemed to be separated by a transparent wall, unable to reach her heart.
Lumine tried fighting Hilichurls, taking commissions, and opening treasure chests, but no matter how many happy things she did, she always felt something was missing, and she couldn't bring herself to be enthusiastic about anything.
It turned out that the Traveler had long been unable to live without that little emergency food.
Lumine took a deep breath, gathered her courage, and her eyes became firm: "Mr. King, regarding Paimon's detention... I know this is the law of Fontaine. But, could I please ask you to take good care of Paimon? Although she's a glutton, sometimes noisy, and always causes trouble, she has a good heart, and she is my most important companion."
Lumine's voice was a little choked, but she forcibly held it back.
After traveling across the sea of stars and five hundred years of slumber, she had become incredibly strong. But Paimon was the brightest color in her gray journey; a world without Paimon was simply too bleak.
"..."
King saw all of this.
Paimon's dependence, Lumine's loneliness and forced composure.
He recalled his initial desire to protect himself when he first obtained the system.
He also recalled the realization that surged deep within him after learning that his most suitable template was the KING template.
The template the system matched for King was—
Hero.
Although King didn't consider himself a hero.
He still feared trouble, was still a social recluse, and still wanted to stay home and play games.
However.
Looking at Lumine's eyes, which hid a sense of loss, and seeing her undisguised, rediscovered cherish for Paimon.
King suddenly felt that forcibly keeping Paimon by his side, constantly "mining" her Emotion Points like a greedy miner... seemed quite meaningless.
With Explosive Heart Release Fist and Superalloy Blacklight Body, he could pretty much walk sideways across Teyvat, as long as he didn't actively provoke the few powerhouses.
As for obtaining Emotion Points, there would be plenty of opportunities in the future; there was no need to extract them from an innocent little one through this almost "kidnapping" method.
A true strong person should have their own magnanimity and principles.
Forcibly taking a little girl away from her most important companion and imprisoning her, was that the act of a "strong person"?
He already possessed the power to protect himself; did he not even have this much generosity?
A month of detention? A god's judgment?
It didn't matter.
He might never become a pure hero like Saitama, nor the dazzling protagonist in a fairy tale.
But he could become KING.
A hero with his own small selfish desires, who would be afraid, would be awkward, but at critical moments, would be willing to follow the good side of his heart.
King slightly raised his chin, his face still maintaining that indifferent expression, but deep within his eyes, a faint, almost gentle smile flickered.
He looked at Paimon, who was moved to tears, and spoke faintly:
"Go back."
"Eh?"
Paimon suddenly looked up, her large, starry eyes wide and filled with disbelief: "Go back? What do you mean?"
Lumine was also stunned, looking blankly at King.
King's gaze met hers, and he said lightly: "Take Paimon. The detention, I've canceled it."
His words were concise, yet they exploded like a thunderclap in the hearts of Lumine and Paimon.
"C-canceled?"
Paimon stammered, "But, wasn't I sentenced to a month..."
"It doesn't matter."
King interrupted her, his tone unwavering: "I'll talk to Neuvillette about it."
"You are free."
The moment these words left his mouth, King himself felt a slight release within his heart.
As if some invisible shackles had been broken.
Not shackles of power, but of mindset.
He could finally choose to be himself, rather than passively accepting and fearfully pretending.
Lumine stared blankly at King.
This man's expression was still so fierce, his tone still so cold and hard.
But at this moment, in Lumine's eyes, that face seemed to be enveloped in a soft halo.
He actually released Paimon?
He clearly possessed such terrifying power, he could easily decide their fate, and even use Paimon to threaten her... but he didn't.
He even considered the pressure from Neuvillette, casually saying, "he'll talk about it."
An indescribable warmth surged into Lumine's heart, mixed with gratitude, joy, and a subtle flutter that even she hadn't noticed.
She opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but found her throat dry.
Ultimately, thousands of words condensed into a slightly trembling:
"...Thank you."
Paimon also reacted, her immense joy making her do several somersaults in the air: "Wow! Free! Paimon is free! I can stay with Lumine again!"
She flew into Lumine's arms, rubbing her little head hard: "Lumine! Let's never be separated again!"
"Mm!" Lumine hugged Paimon tightly, her eyes slightly warm.
King watched this scene, his heart filled with a smile.
He didn't regret letting Paimon go.
The pursuit of power was to live more calmly and openly, not to become shackles that bound his true self.
King would never become a slave to power.
The corner of his mouth curved slightly upwards.
This, was quite good.
King said no more, giving Lumine a slight nod as a farewell, then he stepped forward, continuing alone towards the Opera Epiclese.